The New Forest is a beautiful and largely unspoiled area of woodland, heathland and open pasture that covers the south-west of Hampshire and eastern edge of Wiltshire. It was proclaimed a royal forest by William the Conqueror and features in the Domesday Book. Designated as a national park in 2005, it makes for an excellent destination for nature lovers and golfers. Entering the New Forest just west of Southampton, you will find the charming village of Bramshaw, at the heart of which is its golf club. Nearby, in the hamlet of Brook, lies the Bell Inn.
The Forest course
The Forest course at Bramshaw Golf Club is believed to be the oldest in the county. While still a nine-holer in the 1890s, an alliance was formed with a similar layout at Lyndhurst. This effectively created an 18-hole course, but with the two nines actually five miles apart! The Forest course was extended to a full 18 during the following decade, and as you play it now, it would be very easy to believe that nothing significant has changed since.
It starts with a tough par 4 that calls for an elevated approach over one of the abundant life-giving and ball-taking streams. Next comes a longish par 3, all carry to a green that slopes upwards away from you. As you head out into the furthest wilds, there is a blind approach down to the stream-protected green at the par-5 6th. This is reachable in two for some but full of risk. The front nine climaxes with an absolutely cracking short par 4 – a hybrid up the middle, hopefully, before a short-iron into the green. The King’s Garn stream is more in play here than anywhere else.
This story is from the April 2022 edition of Golf Monthly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2022 edition of Golf Monthly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
"I'm just trying to inspire people to play golf”
Golf Monthly meets social media sensation Mia Baker, who is on a mission to get more people into golf... and smiling all the way
A PLACE ΤΟ YOURSELF
Jeremy Ellwood discovers the Old Millhouse in Dalkeith to be the perfect away-from-it-all base for exploring the East Lothian coast's many fine links
Border patrol
Andy Wright ventures due east from his Troon base for a stay at Macdonald Hotels' Cardrona resort in the Borders near Peebles
Moortown
Golf fans know that Dr Alister Mackenzie was the man responsible for Augusta National; many will also be aware that the surgeon-turned-course architect first honed his design skills on his home patch close to Leeds.
Rickie Fowler
The 34-year-old American is back in form and eager to share his favourite tee-to-green tips
How to cure the chipping yips
INSTRUCTION - SAVE PAR
Beef up your ball flight
INSTRUCTION - FAULT FIXER
HYBRID MASTERCLASS
Top 50 Coach Lysa Jones explains how to make the most of this versatile club
The great debate
Nick Bonfield explores the concept of greatness in professional golf and ponders how it should be defined
BREAKING the mould
To mark shoe giant FootJoy's 100th anniversary, Neil Tappin flies out to its HQ near Boston to find out more about the brand's past and future, before setting up tent in the buzzing campsite it sponsors at The Open